US and Russia accuse UN General Assembly President Baerbock of overreach in Secretary-General selection

Objections from Washington and Moscow

The United States and Russia have jointly criticized UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, accusing her of overstepping her authority in the appointment process for the next UN Secretary-General. Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated in New York that Moscow is concerned about the role the General Assembly president is trying to claim for herself. Nebenzia aligned his statements with objections issued the previous day by United States representatives, who accused Baerbock of procedural overreach and hypocrisy. The confrontation centers on Baerbock's management of the selection framework for replacing António Guterres. Guterres is scheduled to step down from the post of Secretary-General at the end of the year. The German Green politician has held the one-year post of General Assembly president since late 2025 and will complete her tenure in early September 2026.

Candidate hearings and audience voting

Eight candidates are currently running for the position of UN Secretary-General. As part of the succession process, Baerbock organized public hearings with the applicants and sent letters to the UN Security Council outlining procedural expectations. During the hearings, the attending audience voted on the candidates, which diplomats described as the first time such an audience poll had occurred. Baerbock also called on the Security Council not to consider any applicant who had not taken part in an interactive dialogue with the General Assembly. The German Green politician has stated on multiple occasions that she wants a transparent, inclusive, structured, timely, and credible selection process, telling the Süddeutsche Zeitung that it is time for a woman to hold the post.

Security Council selection powers

The decisive recommendation for the Secretary-General post belongs to the UN Security Council, which selects a candidate through non-public ballots. Once the Security Council agrees on a nominee, that individual is formally appointed by the General Assembly, which comprises 193 member countries. As permanent members of the Security Council, the United States and Russia possess veto power over any prospective appointment. Envoys from both nations argue that General Assembly initiatives cannot legally limit the pool of contenders or dictate which candidates the Security Council evaluates during its closed deliberations.

Pushback from United States and Russian envoys

US Deputy Ambassador Jennifer Locetta labeled Baerbock's intervention an overreach and irresponsible. Locetta insisted that the Security Council has the authority to consider individuals who have never participated in a General Assembly dialogue. She further argued that Baerbock views herself as a diplomatic superstar and had indirectly accused the Security Council of failing to act properly.

The President's conduct reveals hypocrisy and casts a poor light overall on the work of the General Assembly.

Baerbock is scheduled to conclude her one-year term as President of the UN General Assembly in early September. The selection process among the eight contenders will proceed in the Security Council ahead of Guterres's scheduled departure at year-end.